It was a perfect night for baseball in St. Louis before Game 3. Prior to Game 2, the Red Sox had won eight straight World Series games, including a sweep of the Rockies in 2007. (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post)

ST. LOUIS — Todd Helton’s successor was briefly within reach last week, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the Rockies’ bid for free agent first baseman Jose Abreu.

The Rockies aggressively pursued the Cuban superstar. I reported last week that they placed multiple bids on the 6-foot-3, 250-pound slugger. The amount was unknown. This weekend, sources said the Rockies reached $63 million, just shy of the White Sox’s winning bid of six years, $68 million.

Rockies’ ownership gave clearance to spend the money on Abreu. It’s unlikely that the Rockies would reach $60 million on another free agent this winter. Abreu was unique because of his age — he’s 26 — and power. Given the success of countrymen Yoenis Céspedes and Yasiel Puig, he represented a worthy gamble.

Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario will have a new coach next season. (Denver Post file photo)

The Rockies’ offseason shuffled continued Thursday with the club announcing that catching coach Jerry Weinstein — who worked tirelessly to improve Wilin Rosario’s skills behind the plate — has been reassigned. The Rockies said Weinstein will have “an undetermined role on the organization’s player development staff.”

Longtime major league coach and former manager Rene Lachemann, who served as the Rockies’ first-base coach this past season, will assume Weinstein’s duties handling the catchers and defensive positioning.

Reliever Manuel Corpas was removed from the Rockies’ 40-man roster, but hopes to re-sign with the team as a free agent. (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post)

Manuel Corpas, who provided serviceable innings at times for a depleted bullpen last season, was taken off the 40-man roster this week as the Rockies look to create room for prospects, according to a major league source.

Pitchers Jeff Manship and former prospect Edwar Cabrera, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, were also outrighted off the 40-man. The Rangers, who have executives that were with the Rockies when he was signed, claimed Cabrera. Manship cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.

Corpas, who makes his offseason home in Denver, hopes to return to the Rockies. He can be re-signed as a free agent at a lower cost than he would have earned in the arbitration process. Corpas, who turns 31 in December, went 1-2 with a 4.54 in 31 games.

Lefty Jorge De La Rosa will look to anchor the Rockies’ rotation in 2014 after the club, as expected, picked up his contract option. (Chris Schneider, The Associated Press)

What owner Dick Monfort said in August came to fruition on Tuesday. The Rockies, in the easiest decision of the offseason, exercised Jorge De La Rosa’s $11-million club option for next season. The club is expected to talk with him this winter about a contract extension.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss said there was never a time during his first season when he didn’t want to return for a second year. He will be back with his next contract expected to get ironed out soon. (Denver Post file photo)

Rockies manager Walt Weiss doesn’t have a new contract. Not yet anyway. Owner Dick Monfort is expected to meet with members of the front office and Weiss beginning Wednesday at the club’s spring training headquarters in Scottsdale.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss said going through the grind of a season as a player helped prepare him for tough times as a manager. (Denver Post file photo)

Rockies owner Dick Monfort told The Denver Post Friday that he wants manager Walt Weiss to return for the 2014 season, and Weiss has made it clear he wants to return.

A contract has not been signed yet, but Weiss spoke about his situation prior the Saturday night’s game against the Diamondbacks.

“I think it’s pretty simple,” Weiss said. “I want to come back and the front office knows that I want to come back. But as far as any contract talks, there have been none. As I said last night, there will be a time for that.”

When asked if, during the toughest times this season, he ever had doubts about returning, Weiss said: “I knew that it was not always going to be roses as a manager in this league. There have been some tough weeks. But I never got to the point where I felt like I didn’t want to come back; where I didn’t want to do this.

Jhoulys Chacin can appreciate history. The Rockies have had plenty of pitchers who can swing the bat. But those who hit home runs is a fairly select group, all things considered. Mike Hampton was the most prolific. Jason Hammel ended the pitchers’ drought with a shot in Milwaukee a few years back (The players put a spoof ball in his locker, congratulating Cole Hamels for his home run and World Series performance). Kevin Millwood delivered some shots. And Alex White was the last to pull it off last September in San Diego.

Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer, a former all star with the Twins, will have familiar opponents when the Rockies face the American League Central opponents in 2014. (Getty Images)

The Rockies’ 2014 schedule is highlighted by games against the American League Central and an appearance by the Rangers May 5-6.

Colorado will begin the season on the road at Miami in a four-game series before returning for the home opener on April 4 against the Diamondbacks at 2:10 p.m. The White Sox follow on April 7-9 at Coors Field.

The Rangers (May 5-6), Twins (July 11-13) and Royals (August 19-20) will all visit Coors Field in 2014. The Rockies interleague play includes road series at Texas (May 7-8) at Kansas City (May 13-14) at Cleveland (May 30-June 1) and at Detroit Tigers (August 1-3).

It’s a wonder pitchers don’t have to sign a waiver before facing Yasiel Puig. He’s a danger to himself (at times) and others. His presence — 6-foot-3, 240 pounds — is unmistakable. Wednesday, he sauntered into the batter’s box with the game on the line.

It was the eighth inning with runners aboard. He represented the go-ahead run. It was his first at-bat since he injured his knee on Monday running the bases. Manuel Corpas, a closer in a previous life with the Rockies, welcomed the confrontation.

He struck out pinch-hitter Carl Crawford and steeled himself for Puig. The at-bat reached a full count. Corpas had used his slider effectively twice to Puig. He figured Wilin Rosario would call for it again. But the catcher surprised him, asking for a sinker.

Two-time all-star Carlos Gonzalez connects for a home run against the Yankees earlier this season. He’d love to swing like that again, but his injured finger won’t allow it. (Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

Carlos Gonzalez’s right middle finger remains swollen, leaving him frustrated and unable to swing a bat. He had hoped to take bp on Wednesday, but the pain prevented it. It raises the question of how much longer the Rockies will allow CarGo to go day-to-day with this injury before electing to shut him down.

He’s available to play defense and run.

“I couldn’t swing. It’s tough. Really tough,” Gonzalez said. “I want to play, but every time I swing and miss, it goes right back to where it was (on July 7).”

Because of the expanded rosters, the Rockies have the luxury of waiting to see if CarGo improves enough to play. Charlie Blackmon, who is 10-for-23 on the homestand, is starting in left field.

Carlos Gonzalez. shown here leaving the field in July with Rockies trainer Keith Dugger, will continues to deal with the right middle finger injury. For now, there are no plans to shut him down, but that could change. (File photo)

Carlos Gonzalez wants to play. He’s changed how he holds the bat, no longer allowing his sprained right middle finger to grip the knob. He’s experimenting with a lighter model. It’s important, he said, to try and participate this month. However, if he continues to have setbacks, he might be put on the shelf since the finger will not heal without several weeks rest.

Carlos Gonzalez and Rockies trainer Keith Dugger were dealing with another injury. He aggravated his finger injury again Wednesday night in Atlanta, but the outfielder said he will not go on the DL. (File Photo by Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

ATLANTA — The standings offer a reprieve. The Rockies fell eight games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, presenting a chance to place Carlos Gonzalez on the disabled list without much debate.

But given the option, Gonzalez turned it down just hours after he re-aggravated the sprained ligament on his right middle finger during his first at-bat. X-Rays showed the same injury as before, leaving Gonzalez to press on, albeit with frequent interruptions.

Carlos Gonzalez left Thursday’s game after aggravating a finger injury. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

With an offense already sputtering, this was the last thing the Rockies needed. All-star and National League home run leader Carlos Gonzalez exited in the fourth inning Thursday after aggravating his finger injury.

SAN DIEGO — In need of bullpen reinforcements, the Rockies took a low-risk chance on hard-throwing right-hander Mitchell Boggs, acquiring the slumping reliever from the Cardinals Tuesday in exchange for $206,400 in international signing bonus money.

PHOENIX — Carlos Gonzalez made his second straight all-star team. Yahoo! Sports Jeff Passan named him his first half National League MVP. He definitely has a strong case given that his home-road splits have normalized.

In this video clip, Gonzalez talked about receiving the most votes from his peers among outfielders. Also, remember if he’s healthy — a big if right now — he and Michael Cuddyer could participate in the Home Run Derby.

BOSTON — The Rockies massaged their roster without losing any pitchers. Relievers Chris Volstad and Logan Kensing were outrighted off the 40-man roster Monday after clearing waivers, and accepted assignments in Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Volstad could resume starting in Triple-A. He was called up recently to help an exhausted bullpen, but struggled. Kensing replaced Volstad, but the Rockies chose to carry five outfielders rather than 13 pitchers. As a result, he was designated for assignment when outfield prospect Corey Dickerson was promoted on Friday.

Kensing was the most successful reliever for the Sky Sox, and could return given the Rockies struggling relievers like Wilton Lopez, Manny Corpas and Matt Belisle, who insists he’s healthy but has allowed 10 earned runs in his last six appearances.

WASHINGTON — Adam LaRoche isn’t prone to hyperbole, so his praise of Roy Oswalt carries weight. The Nationals first baseman said Oswalt looked every bit as good Thursday as he did in the playoffs in 2004 and 2005. That’s heady stuff for a 35-year-old right-hander trying to prove he has something left.

LOS ANGELES — Chris Nelson won’t have to wait long to see his former teammates. The third baseman was traded to the Yankees on Wednesday for a player to be named and cash. Nelson, designated for assignment after last Saturday’s game in Arizona, will be added to the Yankees’ 25-man roster, and travel to Coors Field next week when New York faces the Rockies.

Nelson laughed when told of the timing.

The former first-round pick in 2004 lost his roster spot to Nolan Arenado, the club’s top prospect. Despite a strong second half last season, Nelson struggled to gain traction in April, hitting .242 with no home runs. He was in a difficult spot, hitting eighth and with every at-bat a referendum on his roster spot.

He was among the team’s most popular players, and a class act with the media. When he was told of his dismissal, it was an emotional as anyone could recall in recent memory.

“He brought energy, and kept things loose in here. He never had a bad day, it seemed like,” said friend Eric Young Jr. “Other guys will have to step up and fill that void.”

Added Troy Tulowitzki, “He was a good teammate in this organization for a long time. It was hard to see someone go through something like this. But we all want the best for Nelly”

Nelson is expected to back up former Rockies’ first-round pick Jayson Nix at third base. Nix started briefly at second base for the Rockies in 2008, and like Nelson, was designated after a slow start.

DENVER — Todd Helton is driving his teammates nuts on the bench. He even took to sweeping the dugout in Arizona to pass the time. Yeah, he’s ready to return to the roster. He continued making progress Wednesday, taking batting practice on the field.

Without any setbacks, he will be activated Sunday along with pitcher Jhoulys Chacin.

“Todd is too old to go out on a rehab assignment,” said manager Walt Weiss.

The Rockies have faced a string of left-handers so Helton would have sat in some of those games anyway.
Chacin, out with back spasms, will join the Rockies Friday and return to the rotation Sunday in the series finale against the Rays.

Troy Tulowitzki is back after missing the previous two-plus games with a strained left shoulder cuff. Once he was able to show he could finish his swing, he was cleared to go.

The Rockies also acquired outfielder Jose Monzon, an organization filler, as the player to be named later in the Wilton Lopez-Alex White deal in December. White has been sidelined by an elbow problem. Lopez, after a poor start, has pitched better of late with three straight scoreless outings. Monzon will report to extended spring training.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.